Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere. 

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Camley spares a thought for Lady Justice as the Supreme Court’s Article 50 hearing begins.  

Front pages

The Herald:

In The Herald, political correspondent Kate Devlin reports from the Supreme Court hearing, where government lawyers have argued that PM Theresa May risks losing control over EU negotiations if MPs  have a vote to trigger Brexit talks. 

“Full of holes” is The National’s assessment of the Government’s case. 

The Times, the Mail and the Telegraph lead on a double warning from Bank of England governor Mark Carney - first, that up to 15 million workers could be replaced by robots in future, and that the UK was experiencing its first “lost decade” of economic growth since the 1860s. 

The FT says the Government has promised City chiefs a “smooth and orderly” Brexit. 

The Herald: The Evening Times reports that the “Big G” from the Commowealth Games in Glasgow has found a home. 

The Scotsman reports that the SFA has apologised for failing to deal with a past allegation of abuse against a coach, while the Guardian reports new claims of clubs offering football abuse victims “hush money”.

FFS: Five in five seconds

The Herald:

What’s the story? Time magazine will announce its person of the year tomorrow. 

Is that still a thing? Even in this multi-media, content-saturated age, the annoucement, and subsequent front page, still generates headlines and is a handy way of summing up the year. 

Quick bio of the award? It has been going since 1927, it was “Man of the Year” till 1999, and past winners have included Gandhi, Stalin, “American women”, the computer, Barack Obama, and Angela Merkel. 

Who is on the 2016 shortlist? The predictably mixed bag of 11 includes Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Beyonce, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Hillary Clinton, Simone Biles (above), and a research team who have developed a way to edit DNA.

Could Farage win it? Times editors seem impressed by him, saying: “As head of the UK Independence Party, Farage was a face of the successful campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, positioning the referendum as the start of a global populist wave against the political establishment.” Plus, his friendship with Donald Trump means his face is fairly well known in America. 

Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Afore Ye Go

A bizarre debate took place on Twitter last night between renowned historian Mary Beard and Ukip financial backer Arron Banks over ancient Rome. When SNP MP Stewart McDonald intervened, above, it drew the following response from Mr Banks:

Mr McDonald eventually wearied of Mr Banks' Cicero-like barbs: 

The Herald:

65,000 

The number of Scots aged 60 and over who feel lonelier during Christmas and New Year, according to Age Scotland. FM Nicola Sturgeon yesterday backed the charity’s “No One Should Have No One at Christmas” campaign, signing a pledge to visit an older neighbour. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

The Herald:

Bob Dylan says other commitments will prevent him attending a ceremony in Stockholm next week to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Instead, Patti Smith will perform A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall at the event on December 10, and a speech by the singer will be read out. Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images

The Herald:

“I say to those Ukip politicians: when they chuckle and bray about the result in June and how they've taught Europe a lesson – grow up.”

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson, speaking to the Institute of Directors in London last nigh, urges both sides of the Brexit divide to treat each other with respect. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Independent's sketch writer at the Supreme Court hearing.

The Herald:

"There will be investigations and appropriate action taken if perpetrators are identified.”

In a move that would have tickled the writers of Yes Minister, a spokeswoman for PM Theresa May announces a leak inquiry into the leaking of a letter from Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood about the need to stop leaks. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The Herald:

"A reality show host has become President of the United States. We've done it now.”

Comedian Ricky Gervais. Frederick M Brown/Getty Images

One for Partridge fans.

Apologies for spoiling the surprise if you are expecting a Christmas card from the Chancellor this year.

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat